The Hope of The Moon and Sun
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Percy Jackson. Naruto is owned by Masashi Kishimoto and Percy Jackson is owned by Rick Riordan respectively. Certain elements were inspired by various Naruto/Percy Jackson crossover fanfictions.
Posted April 28, 2020 (Tuesday)
AN1: Guys the PM email notifications are NOT working right now. I heard FF took that function down. So, I am replying to everyone ok! You have to check your PM inbox like I do to see response any PMs! (go to your name in top right corner, left bar- Private Messaging-inbox and tada all the messages go through but you won't get emails saying it did! This goes for all my stories! Check your box for PMs and actually read them!
Not a great chapter but I kinda want to get through the underworld arc as soon as possible so I am trying to move things along.
If you are wondering Naruto is abit envious of the afterlife system of the Elemental Nations. No matter how bad or good you are in that world once you die you get to pass on like anyone else. Or wait in limbo for somebody. You do not have to worry about people judging and assigning you a place after you die. Remember there is no coming back in my story (besides tailed beasts) for the Elemental Nations.
Also, reviews are not popping up (right now) but do know I am still reading them all! Plus ALL PMs! Try to respond ok? I spend the effort to reply it would be nice to hear feedback to.
I did this entire chapter today on my day off so I could give you something. No bashing! The underworld scene is abit condensed compared to the book but I am trying to get past it to be honest.
Chapter 21 Cerberus the 3 headed Puppy?
While Charon slowly waded them through the murky water of the Styx Naruto decided to tell his friends abit about the underworld.
"If you are wondering. Yes, this is the same river that Achilles dipped in as a baby to get his legendary invulnerability." Naruto told them as Annabeth eyes shone making him smile abit. Grover still looked abit uneasy while Percy alternated from impressed to abit frightful. No doubt still remembering Charon warning that he would be burned if he fell in.
"Achilles… That invincible guy from the Trojan War?" Percy asked his face scrunching up in thought as Naruto frowned for a second. Charon grumbled but did not speak.
"Yeah… But remember he still died far too young from pride and ignorance." Naruto warned as Percy gulped. However, Annabeth natural curiosity was not satisfied with Naruto's answer as she turned around to stare at Naruto.
"But Achilles only died because Apollo shot him in the heel his one weak spot!" Annabeth commented but she winced when Naruto eyes grew dark. She was still not used to seeing so much love towards a Godly parent but Naruto clearly was at least abit annoyed at the insinuation.
"Yes, dad shot him in the heel which was clearly Godly intervention. However, Dad only intervened at that point due to Achilles previously dragging the Trojan Prince Hector's body through the mud for 12 days straight." Naruto hissed only to feel bad when he saw Annabeth recoil from his anger. Grover gave him a look of sympathy while Percy looked abit uneasy.
"Look Naruto we get it. He is your dad and he has made errors in the past." Grover said carefully as it was well known that Apollo in the past like all Gods did questionable things especially during Ancient Greece.
Naruto gave Grover a nod of thanks while giving a look of apology to Annabeth who looked abit embarrassed.
Charon chuckled as everyone looked at him in the front of the boat. "Interesting. Most mortals use what the Gods have done in the past to justify hatred towards them and yet you clearly have accepted your parents despite their past." Charon noted to Naruto who glared at him. "Do you have any idea how many men complain about their lives lost due your mother? Most of them have done almost nothing young except being male in her presence." Charon taunted as Naruto grit his teeth in anger. AN2:
Naruto eyes narrowed into slits for a moment before returning to narrow as he took a calming breath. "I know my mom was unfair in the past but she isn't now and that is all that matters to me." Naruto said hotly as Charon raised an eyebrow.
"I suppose that fair since you got to live with your Godly parents unlike some." Charon said snidely as his grin grew seeing the glares from Annabeth and Percy.
Naruto was about to retort but Percy beat him to it. "Look get us to the underworld or Naruto will push you into the river himself!". Percy said with annoyance as Charon turned to Naruto who smiled with an evil smile.
'This kid unlike the others is not afraid.' Charon noted seeing Naruto look at the river with interest.
As Charon grit his teeth but kept quiet Grover finally decided to speak again. "Um why is the river so polluted?" Grover asked pointing how the 'river' appeared to be even more toxic than the water at Santa Monica Beach.
Charon smirked and decided to humour them. "Oh, that's an easy one. For thousands of years your mortals have been putting in your dreams, hopes and wasted efforts and this is the result. Looks nice doesn't it?" Charon asked sarcastically pointing to the bubbling water. Annabeth and Grover looked green at the water while Percy looked like he was concentrating. After a moment he gave a resigned and frustrated sigh.
Naruto looked at the water with annoyance as he contemplated tossing on Charon in just to shut the immortal up. He soon realized it would be pointless as they were in Hades domain so if he was annoyed monsters would attack much more frequently.
In the distance everyone heard a very large howl that almost rocked the boat. Naruto eyes narrowed while Grover whimpered having an idea on what the sound was.
"Oh! Old Three-Head sounds hungry." Charon remarked happily as Annabeth eyes widened realizing what they were about to deal with.
Before anyone could shout the shores of the underworld came into view and Charon parked the boat right next to the dock. Charon gave an exaggerated bow as the members quickly piled out of the boat as soon as possible.
"I would wish you luck but sadly luck doesn't exist here." Charon mocked as he started to row the boat back to the entrance. As he was leaving Charon shouted "If all goes bad maybe I will get a raise for delivering the Son of Poseidon to Lord Hades doorstep?"
Percy glared at the sound as Charon mocking laughs soon vanished. Annabeth shook her head as she looked nervously forward.
"Percy forget about him. We have much bigger problems." Annabeth said gently as Percy turned around and looked forward.
"Yeah Perce we are in the worst place possible for a demigod." Grover whimpered as the group started to walk along the rock paths.
'Besides actually Tartarus pretty much.' Naruto noted as he quickly analyzed the place trying to find any places of interest.
They passed a sign saying "YOU ARE NOW ENTERING EREBUS".
The entrance to the underworld was not quite what any of the questors expected.
They soon entered a very crowded area with 3 'lines'. Naruto saw a line called "EZ DEATH" and two called "ATTENDANT ON DUTY". The "EZ DEATH" line had no staff around it and had a long line that basically went in a quick fashion. The other two lines had beings in black robes hovering with a metal detector line each soul needed to pass through. Those lines appeared to not be moving at all in comparison.
"This is basically airport security and a bad pile up." Percy mumbled at the insanity of the place. He was expecting brimstone and larva instead of what was a fairly bizarre airport security check-in.
Annabeth pointed out the lines. "That one called 'EZ DEATH' is line most mortals choose to go through. It leads to Asphodel Fields. It is actually the safest path in death. No judges just enter and never leave." Annabeth said grimly as the line moved forward without any fuss.
"What kind of place is the Asphodel Field?" Percy asked as the orientation film was rather bare on the underworld.
"Just think of a wheat field in Kansas. With a bunch of nameless people who you can't even tell their faces from." Grover decided to answer as Percy looked appalled.
'I doubt Lady Demeter would like that description but I doubt she ever is in her anyways so no harm no foul.' Naruto thought having his parents talk about the grain obsessed Goddess in passing.
"Why would anyone want to pick that line?" Percy asked in astonishment as Naruto gave him a sad look.
"It is the place most mortals end up anyways. If you didn't do much good or evil or just a normal person you will end up there." Naruto answered as Percy started to look nervous.
Naruto pointed to the other lines with a grimmer expression. "Those lines are for people who want to b judged. It can either go very good for you or much worst. You are taking a high-risk high reward gamble to be honest." Naruto remarked as Annabeth eyes shone with determination.
"Judged? By who?" Percy asked finding the idea you could be judged by the underworld pretty ridiculous. 'What they look at your height and decide you pass?' Percy thought sarcastically.
"There is a panel of 3 judges that rotate every once in a way. People like King Minos, Thomas Jefferson, Shakespeare. People like that. They are mostly famous people or Hades sometimes intervenes directly on your fate." Annabeth told Percy who gulped at the idea his uncle judging his soul.
"So, what happens if you are judged as bad?" Percy asked wondering what the bad people went.
Naruto and Annabeth pointed grimly in a distant field where screaming could be heard.
"The Fields of Punishments. Let's just say it's the place where Hades rewards the people who did evil in life." Grover said without a sense of humour.
Percy gasped as he pointed at one spirit he recognized. "Grover its that preacher from TV!" Percy yelped as the group saw a man get dragged out of the line and with him kicking and shouting to be dragged towards the field of punishment.
"He was a real creep who took a bunch of donations and bolted trying to take it all for himself. He died when his car was hit in an accident and I guess Hades didn't like the stealing part." Grover told Naruto and Annabeth who frowned but lacked pity.
"Wait. That guy was Christian so he believes in Gods not the Greek Gods. So what is he seeing now?" Percy asked finding it bizarre people in other religions ended up in the same place as them.
Grover gave Percy an odd look and croaked "Maybe this is Hell for him? Mortals never really see the same things we do so its hard to tell what they think." Naruto thought it was abit condescending but he supposed mortals were blissfully ignorant most of the time.
Percy turned around and saw Annabeth looking dreamily in the other line. He followed her gaze could vaguely see a place he could only describe as rich persons paradise. He could distinctly see a sealed off area full of fancy houses and happy laughter.
"That my friend is Elysium. Think of the afterlife everyone wants to get but almost none do. You have to have done a lot of good in life to actually get that privilege." Naruto told Percy who looked at the place in envy.
Before any of them could admire the Field anymore they heard the growling except it was much closer. They started walking towards the EZ Death line only to see a massive figure block their paths.
The questors soon realized they were in front of the legendary Cerberus and he did not appear happy with his 3 heads snapping and hissing at the group.
"Ok is it me or is Cerberus a massive 3 headed Rottweiler?" Percy blurted out as the group slowly inched away from the massive dog who appeared to not appreciate the comment.
'Yeah if a Rottweiler became the size of a woolly mammoth.' Naruto thought as he looked at the massive dog with oddly no fear.
"Percy please shut up. He just told us to pray to the God of out choice." Grover hissed almost ready to wet himself in fear. Even Annabeth was paralyzed in fear as a single thought crept in her head.
'I think we are going to die.' Annabeth thought as Cerberus became clearer by the second almost like she was becoming more apart of the underworld. AN3:
"So any ideas how to beat it?" Percy asked as Cerberus almost seemed smug for a moment. He raised his head proudly as if declaring 'You don't.'.
Annabeth said "I can only remember Hercules subduing Cerberus before and he had to literally beat him to the ground and wrestle his neck to win. I can't see us doing that." Unfortunately, that appeared to be the wrong thing to say as Cerberus growled and howled much louder glaring at Annabeth making her whimper more.
"Um please don't mention Hercules again. Cerberus isn't very happy about that." Grover said pleadingly.
Naruto added "Cerberus exact words are 'If you mention that brute again I will chew every one of your heads for breakfast and shit you out for dinner.'."
Everyone including Cerberus looked at Naruto in astonishment for translating Cerberus's growls.
Naruto sent them a dull look before calmly walking towards Cerberus "Hi son of Artemis? You think I can't talk to dogs?" Naruto asked rhetorically.
"Naruto no!" Annabeth shouted quietly in fear for her friend. Grover and Percy were too paralyzed in fear and shock to say anything as Naruto continued to walk towards the 3 headed dog with a calm expression.
The middle head growled and Naruto heard 'What is this human doing?'.
The left and right head were saying "Lets eat him first! I agree!'.
Naruto stopped and looked directly at the Dog before shouting "I think you need some head pats!".
There was a moment of silence before Percy, Annabeth, and Grover jaws dropped in disbelief. Even Cerberus looked at Naruto in utter shock with all three of its heads.
Before anyone could react Naruto leapt up in a single impressive jump and landed on the middle head and started to scratch the top roughly.
There was silence before Cerberus started to whine with pleasure. Before anyone could take it in three Naruto's appeared in smoke and 2 of them went onto the other heads. All three heads were pet at the same time while Naruto landed on the floor in front of the group with a happy and satisfied smile.
Cerberus's groans of happiness soon expelled from all three heads as the dog sat down and began to roll around a little. Frightened spirits screamed as they ran away from Cerberus massive frame.
Percy decided to summarize the groups thoughts. "So, Cerberus guardian of the underworld likes to be pet like a normal dog?" Percy said with pure indignation watching the dog happily growl from the constant attention of Naruto's clones.
Naruto gave them amused looks as he gestured for them to follow him as they snuck past the EZ DEATH line. This however set off many alarms as red lights and bells activated. The group soon started running deeper into the underworld.
The robed guards were prevented from following the group as Cerberus blocked the gateway completely once, he rolled over and refused to move from the attention he was getting.
Naruto continued to whistle as they ran past the check-in and soon the alarms were so distant the group could start to walk again.
Annabeth decided to break the ice and touched Naruto shoulder making him turn around.
"Yes? Is there something the matter?" Naruto asked calmly as Annabeth resisted twitching an eyebrow at Naruto easy going attitude.
"What is going to happen once your clones disappear?" Annabeth asked nervously as she assumed his clones couldn't exist forever.
Naruto laughed and said "Oh I will simply have each clone give each head one of these.". There was a puff of smoke and giant red rubber ball appeared in Naruto's hand. It was easily several times Naruto but he held it easily in his hand as if it weighed nothing.
"Is that a rubber ball?" Grover asked skeptically not just because of its size but also the absurd notion Naruto was carrying this around.
Naruto nodded as the ball disappeared in a puff of smoke. "yeah we use smaller ones to train our new wolves." Naruto said in a matter of fact way as everyone looked at him in surprise.
"Wait you have wolves?" Percy asked rather impressed and shocked.
Naruto gave him an odd look before realizing Percy never met the hunt before. "Yeah Hunt has hunter wolves that hunt with us. Just a quick FYI if you or Grover ever meets the hunt try to stick around me. They might bite a hand off or foot. You know wolf instincts." Naruto warned them cheerfully as Percy and Grover looked at him in fear. AN4:
"Bite?" Percy said in fear as Naruto shrugged.
Annabeth quickly realized she was excluded from the warning. "What about me?" She asked curiously as Naruto gave him a shrug.
"Our wolves are trained to never hurt girls unless mom explicitly says so. So you would be fine." Naruto said non chalently as Grover and Percy gave Annabeth a quick look of resentment.
'Lucky her.' They thought together.
Annabeth got back on track and asked "So you train wolves to be somewhat tame with rubber balls?" Annabeth aksed skeptically as Naruto gave her an odd look.
"Well that and some commands and head pats but yeah basically. Mom had to really train the wolves when I was born being a guy but I think I had her scent as I was told they were more curious than anything around me till I bonded with them all." Naruto said contently.
'Time with the hunt and Artemis. That would be Elysium for me.' Grover thought dreamily.
'Naruto life is pretty insane. Talking about wolves who would rip me apart so casually.' Percy thought cautiously.
Annabeth was looking at her friend with the corner of her eye. 'Naruto was born mortal but clearly has at least some traits from both of his parents. Is this because he wasn't born in a conventional way?' Annabeth thought her Athena brain on hyperdrive. AN5:
"Onwards to Hades! No point being subtle. Even if it wasn't his domain our little show with Cerberus alerted everyone we are here." Naruto said cheerfully as the group sweat dropped following him deeper into the underworld.
'Damn right rubber balls! How else do we train our wolves teeth and claws without something fun and something they can't bite through!' Naruto though in a slightly annoyed thought. He was not pleased his friends thought it was so silly! It was part of the hunt Dattebayo!.
AN2: Look Artemis is fair enough by the time of the Titans Curse (she reproaches however gently towards Zoe for being rude) and pretty much a loving mom in my story. But in the past Artemis was pretty much the ultimate feminist believing that being a guy basically meant you were guilty.
AN3: Not bashing Annabeth but she is pretty much ready to pass out at Cerberus. In my story.
AN4: Naruto was kinda kidding. But yeah he basically suggesting if the hunt visits with the wolves not to let guys wonder around.
AN5: The technical answer has to do with chakra. If he didn't have exceptional chakra from Minato, Kushina and Kurama he would not grown up the way he did.